Swing



Nov. 2, 1937. E. L: WEAVER 2,097,905

SWING Filed Oct. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l F15 Z 7 H IN V ENTOR.

. Earl 1 Hem a1 ATTORNEYS E. L: WEAVER Nov. 2, 1937.

SWING Filed Oct. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edr/ L. Wed/6r ATTORNEYS E. L: WEAVER Nov. 2, 1937.

SWING Filed 001:. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV ENTOR 1,. Ware/ 6% M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE swine Application October 26, 1934, Serial No. 750,039

6 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved swing which has a long smooth gliding motion and which is substantially free of side sway in the gondola.

Second, to provide a swing of this character which is simple and economical in its parts and very efficient and effective in operation, the post and hanger arrangement being such that the occupants have a high visibility.

Third, to provide an improved awning frame for swings and the like, the frame being adapted to be readily collapsed and being simple and economical in its parts and strong and sturdy in construction.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swing embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the swing taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section showing how I pivot the hangers to the corner posts or uprights.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a hanger bushing sleeve.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the connection from the gondola and foot rest to the hangers.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the top of the swing without its fabric covering.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the corner of the top of the swing, a portion of the corner of the fabric covering be-, ing broken away and shown in section to expose my improvements.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of my swing awning frame.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the frame partially collapsed.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of one of the bows.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in side elevation and partially in section 50 on a line corresponding to line l2--I2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a similar view taken on a line cor responding to line I3-l3 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of my invention illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8, inclu- 55 sive, comprises a horizontal substantially rectangular top frame I having outwardly and downwardly inclined supporting posts 2 connected to the sides of the frame in spaced relation to the ends thereof as shown. A gondola 3 is hung from the posts or uprights 2 by hangers 4 so that the gondola is suspended and adapted to swing between the posts.

On the sides of the frame 1, I mount upwardly projecting central members 5 to support the resilient strips 6 which are arched thereover, the ends of the strips being anchored to the ends of the frame by the corner brackets l. The brackets are preferably of L shape and have one arm 9 projecting over the upper outer corner ll) of the end of the frame as shown by Fig. 8, to clamp the end of the strip thereto. The tendency of the strips to straighten out provides a very rigid construction, the centers of the strips being secured to the upper ends of the members 5. The fabric covering II is fitted over the strips 6 with its sides and ends hanging below the frame I as shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 8.

The upper ends of the hangers 4, which are preferably formed of metal rod, are turned outwardly to provide journals [2 which project through the bearings l3. These bearings have radial fins I 4 and are driven into the bores l5 provided therefor in the posts 2. The fins l4 prevent the bearings from turning in the bores and aid in holding the bearings in place in the posts. The outer end of the journal is provided with a nut l6 threaded thereon and separated from the bearing I3 by a tapered washer IT. This arrangement provides a smooth and easy operation of the gondola and eliminates side sway therein.

The side panels. I8 of the gondola are provided with transverse holes l9 for the passage of the intermediate transverse journal portion of the hanger rod, the holes being purposely made larger than the rods to facilitate the working of the angles 2| and 22 at the lower end of the rod through the hole. The side rails 23 of the gondola seats 24 are provided with downwardly opening slots 25 for receiving the gondola journal portions 20 of the hanger rods. The side rail 23 and side panel iii are clamped together between the inner plate 26 and outer plate 21 preferably formed of metal, and secured together by means of bolts 28 extending through the parts. The plates have bearing openings 28 and 30 coacting with the horizontal journal portion 20 of the hanger rod 4. Thus, I provide a strong and substantial bearing connection between the gondola and hanger.

The foot rest 3i has side rails 32 provided with openings 34 for the passage of the inturned lower ends 35 of the han er rods,nuts so being threaded to the inner ends of the rods and separated from the inner sides of the side rails 32 by washers 31. Thus, the foot rest has a gliding movement parallel with the movement of the swing and travels a comparatively short distance with respect to the travel of the swing; for example, in the illustrated embodiment, the foot rest travels but eight inches when the swing travels four feet. Further,

up and down motion of the users or operators knees is substantially eliminated. Also, if desired,

the operator can place his feet on the opposite seat and can operate the swingby hand from one of the hanger rods.

The use of metalhanger rods not only minimizes the eye obstruction, but also provides a much simpler and stronger construction. It also results in the elimination of side sway in the gondola, and provides asmooth and easy operation thereof. Thus, although my swing is light in weight and simple and economical in its parts, it is also strong and safe, and very efficient in operation.

Referring to Figs. 9 to- 13, inclusive, of the drawings, 40 is a swing awning frame comprising spaced parallel side members ll and end members 42, the end members being pivotally connected at their ends to the endsof the side members at 43 so as to form a rectangle when open and a parallelogram when collapsed. Fig. 9 shows the frame open while Fig. 10 shows the fame partially collapsed.

Opposed central uprights 44 are pivoted to the side members M at A5, the central cross member 46 being pivotally connected at its ends to the upper ends of the uprights at 4] and 4B. The connection 48 is preferably in the form of a bolt so that one end of the cross member d6 may be quickly and readily disconnected from the upright to collapse the parts with the side and end members of the frame.

The end members 32 are provided with inwardly facing upwardly inclined opposed sockets 39 receiving the tapered ends 50 of the resilient bows the bows being arched over the cross member 46 and resting thereon as shown by Fig.

9. The ends of the bows are detachably engaged in the sockets, the bows being adapted to be sprung upwardly to release the ends thereof from the end members. Thus, the awning frame is easily and quickly assembled or erected and may be knocked down and collapsed into a relatively small space by simply detaching the resilient bows from the end members and removing the single bolt 48. In erected position, the parts form a strong and rigid structure for the top 'of the swing.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvementsas may be desired.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention is therefore not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I .a foot rest having side rails provided with alined transverse openings, and hanger rods having inturned lower ends extending through the openings in the side rails of the foot rest for supporting the latter in the gondola, out-turned upper ends extending through said bearings for supporting the hangers, and intermediate trans- Verse portions extending through the bearing holes in said side plates for supporting the gondola, and nuts threaded to the ends of said hanger rods at the inner sides of the side rails of the foot rest and at the outer sides of said corner posts.

2. A swing comprising a horizontal frame having outwardly and downwardly inclined corner posts provided with alined transverse bores, bearings fitting within said bores, a gondola having opposed side panels provided with transverse holes, seats having side rails disposed adjacent the inner sides of said panels and provided with downwardly opening slots in line with said holes, inner and outer plates bolted together through said side rails and side panels and having bearing holes therein, a foot rest having side rails provided with alined transverse openings, and hanger rods having inturned lower ends extending through the openings in the side rails of the foot rest for supporting the latter in the gondola, out-turned upper ends extending through said bearings for supporting the hangers, and intermediate transverse portions extending through the bearing holes in'said side plates for supporting the gondola, and nuts threaded to the ends of said hanger rods. 7

3. A swing comprising a horizontal frame having outwardly and downwardly inclined corner posts provided with alinedtransverse bores,bearings fitting within said bores, a gondola having opposed side panels provided with transverse holes, seats having side rails-disposed adjacent the inner sides of said panels and provided with downwardly opening slots in line with said holes, inner and outer plates bolted together through said side rails and side panels and having bearing holes therein, and hanger rods having outturned upper ends extending through said bearings for supporting the hangers, and inturned lower portions extending through the bearing holes in said side plates for supporting the gondola, and nuts threaded to the ends of said hanger rods.

4. A swing comprising a gondola'having opposed side panels provided with transverse holes, seats having side rails disposed adjacent the inner sides of said panels and provided with downwardly opening slots in line with said holes, inner and outer plates bolted together through said side rails and side panels and having bearing holes therein, a foot rest having side rails provided with alined transverse openings, and hanger rods having inturned lower ends extending'through the openings. in the side rails of the foot rest ing the gondola, and nuts threaded to the ends of said hanger rods at the inner sides of the side rails of the foot rest.

5. A swing comprising a gondola having 0pposed side panels provided with transverse holes, seats having side rails disposed adjacent the inner sides of said panels and provided with downwardly opening slots in line with said holes, inner and outer plates bolted together through said side rails and side panels and having bearing holes therein, and hanger rods having inturned lower portions extending through the bearing holes in said side plates for supporting the gondola.

6. A swing comprising a horizontal frame having downwardl inclined corner posts provided with transverse bores, a gondola having opposed side panels provided with transverse holes, hanger rods having offset upper ends extending through said bores and having inturned lower portions extending through the holes for supporting the gondola, and a foot rest supported under said gondola by said rods, said rods extending downwardly from said inturned lower portions and being pivotally connected to said foot rest.

EARL L. WEAVER. 

